Orli Rosenstein, a junior at Tenafly High School, has been named the recipient of the Sharon Begley Award, a recognition created to honor the late journalist and Tenafly alumna, Sharon Begley. The award was announced last week, during Rosenstein’s Journalism class.
Sharon Begley (’74) was a renowned science journalist who brought clear, accessible reporting and scientific ideas to the public. Graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in combined science in 1977, Begley began her career at Newsweek, where she became a leading voice in science communication. Her articles, such as “Science Finds God” and “The Mystery of Schizophrenia,” earned recognition from organizations like the Religion Communicators Council and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. After 25 years at Newsweek, she joined The Wall Street Journal in 2002, where her writing continued to win awards, including a Front Page Award for her column on gene expression. She later returned to Newsweek and then wrote for The Daily Beast, The Boston Globe, and Reuters, consistently delivering impactful science journalism throughout her career.
Unfortunately, Begley died of lung cancer in 2021, but her name still lives on. Because of her death, Begley’s friends in her Class of ’74 created the Sharon Begley Award to honor her legacy and achievements. With a final round of fundraising this year, the 2025 award—the last—went to Orli Rosenstein (’26).
Whitehead, an English teacher at Tenafly High School, was chosen to select a junior girl to receive this award.
“[Orli] was a quick learner with a real interest in journalism,” he said. Over time, that spark turned into something even more impressive. Whether writing articles, leading discussions, or anchoring for the Tenafly High School Morning show, Orli consistently showed “efficiency, skill, confidence, and character.” Whitehead recalled a pivotal moment during a Socratic seminar on the film Spotlight, when Orli volunteered to facilitate. “I could see right away that whatever tentativeness she may have felt in the first weeks of school had been replaced with confidence.” Since then, according to Whitehead, she’s continued to rise to the challenge in every setting.
To Whitehead, the Sharon Begley award is about more than just journalistic ability—it honors the spirit of “passion and dedication to journalism, as well as leadership.” He feels that Orli embodies those qualities. As a junior in Journalism Honors II, Orli has become a dependable leader and thoughtful mentor, helping guide students with “patience and kindness.” She recently received the position as Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Echo for next year, further demonstrating her leadership skills. She approaches every opportunity with passion and drive. “She’s up for anything,” Whitehead said.
Orli was shocked when Mr. Whitehead announced her name. “I did not know who Sharon Begley was before the award, but after getting it, I did some research on her and learned about her life and work as a journalist,” she said. After researching for quite some time, Orli was impressed with all Begley had achieved during her life. “It is definitely a great honor, and I am very proud to have received the award in her name,” she said.
Sharon Begley’s web site
Sharon Begley’s obit in The New York Times
